No matter how small or large, every employer needs to create a safe working environment. This obligation not only stands as a moral imperative and a legal obligation but also makes financial sense.
Establishing a safety and health program at your job site is one of the most effective ways of protecting your most valuable asset: your workers. Losing workers to injury or illness, even for a short time, can cause significant disruption and cost—to you as well as the workers and their families. It can also damage workplace morale, productivity, turnover, and reputation.
A safe work environment will reduce the amount of injuries and fatalities in a work place, but an unsafe work environment can lead to very hazardous situations for all employees. This is because unsafe and poor working conditions can negatively affect a person’s physical and mental health. In this post we are going to discuss what the effects of an unsafe work environment could cause if not handled properly or timely.
What is an Unsafe Work Environment?
An unsafe work environment occurs when an employee is unable to perform his or her required daily duties because the physical conditions of the workplace are too dangerous.
Illness and injury in a workplace
Unproductive workforce: eg Poor indoor air quality has been linked to: Headaches,Irritation of eyes, skin and nose and poor concentration
Chronic health issues; Chemical hazards create chronic health issues, such as asthma, liver damage and cancer. Poor work design Poor ergonomics in the workplace can lead to health issues for employees, such as cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive motion injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.
An organization’s employees are its number one asset. Keep your employees healthy and happy, and your organization will reap the benefits. While providing healthcare coverage can be burdensome, ill-health caused by infections or occupational diseases can result in longer term financial costs on the business.
The renewed or enhanced commitment to safety and health and the cooperative atmosphere between employers and workers have been linked to:
Nutrition and healthy employees: by providing a pleasant break room or a cafeteria serving nutritious food, a business can encourage healthy social interactions and eating habits for its employees.